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Encomiums as ex-CJN Bello is buried
JOHN SHIKLAM,
Kaduna
Former Chief
Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mohammed Bello was buried on Saturday in
Kaduna amid tributes from prominent Nigerians.
Justice Bello died last Thursday at a
German hospital after a protracted illness. His body was flown into Kaduna
airport from where the funeral procession started.
The body was taken to the Sultan Bello
mosque where Dr Ahmed Abubakar Gumi led in prayers for the repose of the soul of
the late Bello.
His remains was later laid to rest at the
Isa Kaita road cemetery, Angwan Rimi. Among the prominent Nigerians that
attended the funeral ceremony were the former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim
Babangida, Speaker House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, Katsina
State Governor, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua, former Military Administrator of
Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa as well as Senator Jibril Aminu.
Other dignitaries who attended the burial
included the Emir of Zazzau, Dr. Shehu Idris, former Inspector General of Police
(IGP) Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, Alhaji Wada Nas, former governor of old Kaduna
State, Alhaji Isa Kaita.
In his tribute, Gen Babangida described
the late Bello who served as the nation’s Chief Justice during his (Babangida)
adminstration as a disciplined judicial officer who introduced considerable
reforms in the nation’s judiciary.
Bello’s death had been announced by a
family associate.
A statement signed on behalf of the family
by Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, said the former Chief Justice died after a
protracted illness.
Late Justice Bello who died at the age of
75 was the first northerner to become Director of Public Prosecution, High Court
Judge and Justice of the Supreme Court.
He was Nigeria’s Chief Justice during the
Babangida administration and retired at the end of the regime.
After retirement, Justice Bello become
active in the promotion of peace, tolerance, harmonious co-existence and
understanding among Nigerians as a member of the General Purpose committee of
the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Jama’atu Nasil Islam.
He was a member of the Board of Patrons of
the Arewa Consultative Forum and a concern citizen of Kaduna State.
He was the chairman of the Arbitration
panel of the African Development Bank and actively involved in the promotion of
alternative dispute resolutions.
The former Chief Justice is survived by
two wives and thirteen children and many grand children.
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